Attitude Hotels updates The Holiday Place on their "Otentik" holiday resorts in Mauritius

Representing Mauritian hotel chain, Attitude, the lovely and bubby Olivia Knight came down to The Holiday Place's headquarters last Thursday to train our senior travel experts and advisors on their properties and give us the heads up on all the updates and new promotions at their collection of innovative all-inclusive resorts with a touch of added refinement and sophistication. Standing out in the crowd where most Mauritius resort offer Half Board as the norm, Attitude brings a decidedly fresh take on the all-inclusive package with a modern twist and plenty of perks. We looked at The Ravenala, The Zilwa and The Tropical in more detail.

Arriving to our office like a breath of fresh Mauritian air, Olivia Knight, made it to The Holiday Place’s office in Northwest London last Thursday with an eager enthusiasm to update everyone on the beautiful collection of Mauritian hotels and resorts she represents.

During one of her training sessions she started off by describing what the Attitude brand of hotels stood for and described their unique Authentic (Otentik) concept as:

"...an innovative and fresh approach to allow guests a full immersion in the local culture and give them more than just sand and sea."

Further explaining what this revolutionary concept involved she said that as part of their holiday experience, guests staying at any of Attitude Hotels’ eight properties were offered the opportunity of getting to know locals more personally by having dinner with staff members and their families at their homes – an activity priced at just £15 per diner and giving holidaymakers a real and raw way to be part of the local culture and way of life.

She went on to add that this add-on experience perfectly tied in with the free cooking classes they offer at their resorts. Other unique perks that embrace this Otentik Attitude include the Otentik Bazaar which consists of an onsite marketplace where guests can buy a variety of locally made souvenirs whilst in the know that all the money from it goes back to the local community and local charities.

She also spoke about some other charming inclusions across all Attitude properties, such as the very popular “Coco” rum truck ensuring everyone’s glass remained well-filled to the brim at all times. For entertainment she added that regular shows or special activities were organised, including some that featured traditional Indian dancing for that touch of local flair.

She then went on to talk to us about three of their eight properties in Mauritius, placing a strong focus on The Ravenala Attitude and the Zilwa Attitude, two of their most outstanding hotels for different reasons.

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Starting with the Revanela, the most exclusive of all, Olivia introduced it as:

“...the only all-suite four-star all-inclusive hotel in Mauritius.”

With a decidedly cosy and boutique feel ideal for couples (especially honeymooners) and families seeking a soothing and peaceful hideaway. Featuring a separate adults-only beachfront wing with 40 suites as well as an adults-only restaurant (Lime) this resort certainly knows how to cater to couples in search of undisturbed, totally child-free seclusion. But families aren’t left out either as the resort offers a collection of spacious 102 family suites in which children under 6 years old stay completely free when sharing with parents.

Although for legal reasons these spacious 72-square-metre suite can’t be called “two-bedroom” they do feature two separate sleeping areas which are split by a thin, non-brick wall. They can sleep a combination of three adults plus one infant, or two adults plus three children. There are some that can sleep a maximum of two adults and four children but there are very few of these and therefore hard to find availability for.

This recently opened resort which started welcoming guests from 12th October 2015, offers guests with a total of seven fully-inclusive restaurants to dine at plus one additional one - the gourmet Riviera Restaurant, which is only available for an extra supplement and not part of the all-inclusive plan. To ensure guests are kept well-hydrated throughout their stay, also included are five onsite restaurants plus one nightclub with premium branded drinks served from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

As one rather exceptional feature of this hotel, upon arrival guests will find their in-suite minibar completely empty and that’s because they’re encouraged to select the drinks they actually like (instead of being given a standard selection that might not be to everyone’s taste) and once they’ve done so, these will be replenished daily – how’s that for personalised attention to detail at an all-inclusive? Virtually unheard of! So, The Ravenala certainly gets tops mark here as well.

To keep little ones thoroughly entertained throughout children get complimentary full access to an onsite kids club that’s open, wait for it… from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. – now that’s truly outstanding! Giving parents plenty of time alone to choose from and a great deal of flexibility when it comes to arranging free childcare while on holiday, this fun club has plenty of things going on to keep little minds amused – from treasure hunts to active pursuits and crafts. On top of that babysitting facilities outside the kids club’s opening hours can also be arranged for an extra fee.

And for the not so little (and let’s face it, sometimes difficult) youngsters, the Teens Republic is there to offer them with a cool chill-out zone in which they can hang out and make use of the various consoles, board games and entertainment facilities.

On top of it all, other great additions that everyone in the family will love include the outdoor cinema, the two (unofficially) largest pools in Mauritius (plus a separate kids pool and weekly Saturday pool parties) and free Wi-Fi access everywhere. Included activities in the resort’s All-In All-Out all-inclusive package are water sports on the beach such as water-skiing, the water sledge (very similar to a banana boat) and beach volleyball.

On the resort’s riverside, which offers a much more laidback and relaxing atmosphere, guests can choose from various activities, from yoga and meditation, to paddle-boarding, kayaking, and pedal boats – all fully inclusive too!

And for those addicted to pampering treatments whilst on holiday, we also learnt that there’s a new spa being currently built at The Ravenala coming soon in the next few months. And for those addicted to pampering treatments whilst on holiday, we also learnt that there’s a new spa being currently built at The Ravenala coming soon in the next few months.

But we saved the best part ‘till last – to celebrate The Ravenala’s opening, Attitude Hotels is giving The Holiday Place customers a very special launching offer with a 25% discount on all stays for bookings made by 28th February and for travel anytime (yes, absolutely anytime from now onwards).

Next we were briefed on the Zilwa Attitude, a resort that actually saw the birth of Attitude’s Otentik concept, which in the local language (French creole) means “islander”.

This exceptional four-star all-inclusive property has something for everyone and its layout is incredibly inviting, featuring plenty of large open spaces with buildings and facilities built with an open-plan design that gives a truly freeing vibe and island feel, part of why this is one retreat that welcomes back a lot of repeat guests.

In-keeping with the latest technology to give guests a hassle-free experience from the moment they step in, check-in is done via an I-pad to ensure a speedy welcome and great facilities for families include a fun kids club with a huge life-size boat in which regular activities are carried out (mainly treasure hunts).

But perhaps Zilwa’s biggest selling point are its offshore private islands - Gran Zil and Ti Zil; where daily beach barbecues are organised, couples massages are done on tables looking out onto the ocean. Free weddings are also offered at this romantic hideaway and if bride and groom want this theirs to be a more private affair they can have their wedding at either of the Zil private island for just £360 extra (other add-ons include fireworks for a truly magical island wedding).

A quirky and refreshing feature of this resort is the traditional Mauritian street food they offer, authentically cooked the local way but made to order (which means it can be as hot or as mild as you want). Special ‘Otentik’ experiences include fishing boat trips arranged with a local fisherman, Creole lessons, catamaran trips, kite-surfing, an outdoor cinema and much, much more.

On a briefer note, she reminded us of all the highlights of their three-star property Tropical Attitude, an adults-only hideaway offering amazing value for money where guests get the same level of all-inclusive privileges including free twice-daily boat transfers (via a complimentary transfer) to the idyllic Ile aux Cerfs, which sits opposite the resort.

On a concluding note, charming and witty Olivia reminded us that all Attitude Hotels maintain their pristine condition and individual feel thanks to the fact that they get refurbished every three years, so there’s no room for neglect or tired facilities here.